WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Get On The Bus
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 25 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Richard Belzer, DeAundre Bonds, Andre Braugher, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Gabriel Casseus, Albert Hall, Harry Lennix, Hill Harper, Bernie Mac, Wendell Pierce, Ossie Davis & Charles S. Dutton

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 1.5
Sound Rating: 3
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 89546
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 121
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1996
(LD Release Date): 6/9/97
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Spike Lee
(Screenplay/Written By): Reggie Rock Bythewood
(Story): NA
(Music): (Music)
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Ina Mayhew
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Leander T. Sales
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Spike Lee
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Reuben Cannon, Barry Rosenbush & Bill Borden

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): SDDS Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Get On The Bus is the critically acclaimed film that follows a fictional group of “pilgrims” as they travel by charter bus from improvised South Central L.A. to Washington, DC for the famed Million Man March. What starts as a simple cross-country bus trip soon becomes a journey of the heart. Boarding the bus as strangers, the men emerge three days and thousands of miles later as brothers. The journey is not just across America, but down forgotten roads within themselves and onto the common ground of unity and hope on which they all must tread.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 picture exhibits serious problems in color fidelity with oversaturated colors rendered in green and yellow hues that look terribly unnatural. Images are wanting in sharpness and detail with noise and artifacts throughout.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack has a terrific jazz-soul music score that is nicely recorded. Dialogue is generally natural sounding with good spatial integration. Surround is very subtle and not particularly effective, except for the music sequences.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: